I began learning Russian with VLLC last year. My family was a big part of my decision to learn - It’s nice to see the smile my babooshka gets when I speak with her in her first language! I am also motivated to get to a fluency which will allow me to read and translate an old family journal, which we haven’t been able to understand because it is written in Russian! I am almost there - I practice with my family, my partner… even with people who don’t understand; I will say something in Russian then repeat it in English – so I get to practice saying all kinds of things every day! One language isn’t always enough – Russian is often more emotive than English, and speaking to someone in their own language allows you to get a lot more out of the conversation.